Journey Through Time 63. The Spanish Civil War: Fighting Fascism With Hemingway And Orwell (Ep 2)
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Jan 8, 2026 The podcast delves into the fascinating story of the International Brigades and the diverse motivations of the 35,000 foreign volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War. It explores the first racially integrated military unit in the U.S. and the pivotal roles women played, from nurses to frontline fighters. Journalists like Hemingway shaped global perceptions of the conflict, while the podcast reveals the complexities of factionalism, the impact of Soviet influence, and Orwell's disillusionment with communism as warfare evolved.
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Why Volunteers Defied Democratic Appeasement
- International volunteers joined Spain to stop fascism when their governments appeased dictatorships.
- The Lincoln Battalion became a focal point linking American idealism to Spanish resistance.
A Global, Ideologically Mixed Force
- Around 35,000 volunteers came from over 50 countries united by anti-fascism rather than uniform politics.
- They spoke dozens of languages and varied wildly in motive and background.
Experience Was Concentrated Abroad
- Many brigaders lacked combat experience but some officers had Western Front service that proved invaluable.
- Spanish forces lacked similar mass wartime experience because Spain stayed neutral in WWI.
